Signs of Fear

The first step in helping your frightened pooch is learning to recognize signs that she is scared and may become aggressive out of self-defense.

Body Language

Like all dogs, Chihuahuas communicate mostly through body language. Your Chi will use her ears, posture, and tail to communicate to you that she is scared.

• Ears – When scared, your pup may flatten her ears against her heads. Dogs use the angle of their ears to tell other dogs how they are feeling and this flattened angle is her way of saying “I’m scared!” loud and clear. Learn to watch your dog’s ears for signs of how your dog is feeling in any given situation.
• Posture –  A scared Chihuahua will sometimes portray a submissive posture by standing with his head low and back arched. Or your little friend may show his fear by rolling over to expose his belly in the ultimate show of submission.
• Tail – What your little dog’s tail for signs that he is becoming scared.  A frightened Chihuahua will tuck his tail between his legs to protect his genitals. Some little dogs will also do this when they are cold so watch for other signs of fear along with the tail-tucking.

Other Signs

• Cowering – One of the most common signs of fear in animals is shying or cowering away from the thing that is scaring them.
• Panting – You probably know that dogs pant when they are hot but heavy panting is also a sign of a scared, stressed or nervous little dog.
• Yawning – Similar to the way you might take a few deep breaths to calm your nerves, a tense or scared Chihuahua may yawn frequently.
• Shaking or Shivering  –  Little dogs  tend to shiver when they are frightened but this can also be a sign of health problems such as hypoglycemia. If you notice your pup gets shaky even when there doesn’t seem to be a reason to be scared, you may want to check with your vet.
• Growling – Chihuahuas tend to growl more out of fear than aggression. They do this as an effective way to keep the animal or human that is scaring them at a safe distance.

How to Deal With a Scared Chihuahua

Your little friend may have been abused or roughly handled in the past or she may be intimidated by a world that is a dangerous place for such a tiny creature. Once you have learned to recognize the signs of fear, you can begin to help her learn to feel safe.

• Stay calm and positive – Your little friend is sensitive to your moods and any negativity she senses from you will only make him more frightened and distrustful. Your pup will look to you as the leader of the pack to let her know whether her fears are justified; don’t give her any reason to think they are.
• Don’t overreact -  It is very tempting to shower our little friends with love and comfort when we see them frightened.  This can have the undesired effect of training our Chihuahuas to act afraid so try to act normally when your Chi gets scared.
• Desensitize – Desensitization training is a great way to help your little dog become more confidant. By exposing her to those things she is frightened of in small doses over time, your Chi will become more and more use to those scary situations.
• Socialization –  Many dogs become frightened because they just aren’t used to being around other dogs and people. This lack of socialization can lead your pup to think that everyone and everything is to be mistrusted.  The more places, people, and animals you can expose your baby-dog to, the more confident she will become. one of the reasons that dogs become fearful in the first place is a lack of socialization.

Honey the devoted four year old chi has come to the rescue on seeing it’s eight year old owner being attacked by a pit bull in her own back yard in Chilliwack BC Canada.  At the point of Honey’s intervention the savage pit bull had  her owners small head in its mouth.

Honey wasted no time in drawing the pit bull away from young Jenna Desrocher with her ceaseless barking.

Jenna suffered facial injuries which may have been more severe had her best friend Honey not come to her aid.

The pit bull has since been put down.

Why Train a Chihuahua Tricks?

You might wonder why to bother training your precious pup to do tricks. After all, his main job is to be a cuddly companion, and he already does that very well, right? There are several compelling reasons to take the time to teach your Chihuahua tricks, even if just the basics.

A well-mannered dog is more enjoyable to be around. We’ve all met them – those ill-mannered, yappy little dogs that give Chihuahuas a bad name. By teaching your Chihuahua tricks such as Sit, Stay, and Lay Down, you will have a little dog that everyone will enjoy spending time with because he will have at least basic obedience training.

Training time is bonding time.  Every time you focus your attention on your Chi to help him learn a new trick, you are deepening your bond with each other. The time spent interacting, teaching and rewarding your pup will help create a better relationship between you and your dog.

Mental stimulation is important for a happy dog.  Chihuahuas are highly intelligent little dogs and training your Chihuahua tricks stimulates his brain.  Brain stimulation and training will help keep your dog from looking for trouble.

Chihuahuas need attention.  Your Chi loves you and will do whatever is necessary to get attention from you; even if that means doing something naughty. When you train your Chihuahua tricks, you will be rewarding positive behavior and eliminating the need for seeking attention through negative behavior.\

Teaching the Lay Down, Step-by-Step

Before you can train this Chihuahua trick, your dog will need to know how to Sit first. Once she has mastered the Sit, you can grab your treats and move on to the Lay Down. Also, keep in mind that the command “Down” should not be used to when trying to keep him from jumping up on you or off-limit furniture. The “Down” command should only be used when referring to laying down to prevent your pup from getting confused.

1. Have your Chi sit in front of you, then either sit or kneel so you are closer to her.
2. While she is still in the Sit, hold a treat in front of her nose.
3. In a calm, clear voice say “Down.”
4. Slowly lower the treat to the ground in front of her front paws.
5. Your little dog should naturally do this Chihuahua trick by following the treat to the ground. As soon as her chest is on the ground, give her the treat and lots of praise!
6. Repeat steps 1-5 several times throughout the day, until your little friend easily lays down when asked to.

If your pup doesn’t seem to want to follow the treat down, you may need to try this alternate method.

1. Start this Chihuahua trick with your little dog sitting next to you, facing the same direction as you.
2. With one hand attempt to lure her into the Down position with a treat as you say “Down.”
3. Put your other hand behind her front legs and gently slide them forward.
4. She will naturally end up laying down and when she does, give her the treat and say “Good Down!”

Practice often and always keep the training sessions positive and your little dog will have this Chihuahua trick down like a champ! Eventually you will both be ready to practice lying Down in different locations and on different surfaces. This is also a good Chihuahua trick to combine with the Stay command and can be used to keep your little dog safe in difficult situations.

Once this Chihuahua trick is second nature to your Chi, she will be ready to expand it into the adorable Roll Over or Play Dead Chihuahua tricks; both of which will have everyone you know saying “Aww, how cute!”

• Train your Chihuahua to Speak on command. This may seem counterintuitive, but if your little friend knows how to Bark when told to, she will also understand the command No Bark.
• Make sure your pup is getting plenty of exercise. A lot of Chihuahua behavior issues stems from boredom and a lack of physical stimulation. If your precious pooch is worn out from a good long walk, she won’t have the energy to bark at every little thing.
• Socialize your Chi. The more people, animals, and situations she is exposed to every day, the more comfortable she will be when strangers come a knocking. Take your baby dog everywhere with you and she will soon stop feeling as if she needs to bark to warn you about everything.

2. Chihuahua Destructive Chewing – Their teeth may be tiny, but they can do a lot of damage! Destructive chewing is a Chihuahua behavior that no one wants to have to deal with but it can be prevented.

• Again, make sure your little pup is getting enough exercise. Most Chihuahua behavior issues can be fixed by simply making sure she is physically exerting herself every day. A tired dog is a good dog and she will get the added benefit of preventing doggy obesity.
• Use distraction to keep your Chi from chewing your favorite pair of shoes. When you catch your dog gnawing away on something she shouldn’t, distract her with something that is acceptable for her to chew.
• Many dogs exhibit this Chihuahua behavior problem when they are left alone for extended periods of time. Spend as much time as possible with your little friend and she will be less anxious when left alone.

3. Chihuahua Aggression – Chihuahuas usually act aggressive for one of two reasons; either they are frightened or they are jealous. Either way, aggression is a Chihuahua behavior problem that should be dealt with right away to prevent it from becoming a habit.

• Exposing your Chi to many different situations will help him become confident. If you are dealing with a completely under socialized or abused dog, it may take a while to get him comfortable, but the more he sees you feeling confident and calm in new situations, the more he will see that this is the way to act.
• Chihuahuas can be loyal to a fault and become aggressive toward anyone who they perceive as being a threat to the person they love most. If your Chi growls or snaps at people who try to be close to you, make sure that he is getting plenty of positive attention and turn your back on him when he lashes out. Don’t over react, but putting a bit of distance between him and you will help him learn that this Chihuahua behavior is unacceptable.
• Spay or neuter your Chihuahua. This will not only lessen aggressive behavior but also prolong his life and prevent any unwanted puppies that may end up homeless.

4. Chihuahuas Making messes in the house – Chihuahua potty training isn’t that hard but can be a challenge with dogs that have gotten into the habit of doing their business wherever they please.

• Male dogs who are neutered are much less apt to pee all over the house. If your little macho man thinks he needs to mark every surface, getting him fixed could save you a lot of heartache!
• Crate training can also be a big help with keeping the in-house messes to a minimum. Just be sure that you only leave your little friend locked in his crate for a few hours at a time. He will soon learn that outside is the place to pee.

Ahhh, nothing like a sweet puppy kiss to make your day a little brighter. That is unless your little dog has breath that makes you gag! Studies show that over 95% of bad doggie breath is caused by poor dental hygiene which is good news; this means you can do something to clear it up!

Cleaning Chihuahua teeth is the number one thing you can do to help keep his breath smelling, if not minty fresh, then at least better than a zombie’s. Cleaning Chihuahua teeth is not the easiest thing in the world but is important for keeping your baby dog happy and healthy.

Training is Key
Very few dogs appreciate having their teeth cleaned and cleaning Chihuahua teeth is no different. Your sweet little pup may turn into a Tasmanian devil when you first try to brush her teeth, but with training, she will learn to tolerate it.

Training Chihuahua teeth starts with getting him used to having his mouth touched and this is all based on trust. The sooner you start getting your baby-dog used to you playing with his mouth, the better.

• Start by just casually just rubbing your finger along the outside of your Chihuahua’s mouth, praising him for being a good dog.

• As he gets more comfortable with having his mouth touched, you can gently start to rub his teeth. Always stay positive, and don’t ever punish him for being uncomfortable.

• The next step to cleaning Chihuahua teeth is to put some dog toothpaste on your finger, let him taste it and then again rub your finger gently on his teeth. Never use human toothpaste on your Chihuahua’s teeth as this can make him sick. Specialized dog tooth paste is not only safe for your dog but also tastes much better to him.

Take things slowly; the goal here is to earn your pup’s trust. Cleaning Chihuahua teeth should be just another fun way to spend time with your dog. If you make a big, scary deal of it, you will end up with a very resistant doggy.
Using a Chihuahua Toothbrush

Once your little friend is comfortable with having his teeth rubbed, you can introduce him to a finger brush. These types of dog toothbrushes are the most useful for cleaning Chihuahua teeth as they are small enough for his tiny mouth. Even though your pup is now a pro at having her teeth handled, doesn’t mean she will immediately tolerate having this strange, new object put in her mouth. You will again need to take things slow and only put the finger-brush in her mouth for a couple of seconds at a time. At this stage you don’t need to be concerned with the quality of brushing, it’s just practice right now.
There are regular handled toothbrushes for dogs and many people simply use human toothbrushes on their dogs. Normal sized toothbrushes are far too big for cleaning Chihuahua teeth and you are better off sticking with the finger brush to use on your itty bitty dog.

Remember, keep things short and sweet and your little friend will soon look forward to having his teeth brushed. Start with just brushing a few front teeth and then gently scrub a back tooth or two. Practice every day until you can brush all of his teeth easily.

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How to Brush Chihuahua Teeth

Now that your pooch readily accepts the finger-brush, you can start to work toward keeping his little teeth pearly white. Here is how to have a successful cleaning Chihuahua teeth session:
1. Hold your pup on your lap or tucked under your arm so that you can hold him steady. By this point he should be pretty used to the whole cleaning Chihuahua teeth program and shouldn’t need to be held to securely.

2. Put a small amount of doggy toothpaste on your finger brush. You only need a drop about the size of a pea.

3. With one hand, gently lift your pup’s tender lips up and softly scrub the outside of all of his teeth. Don’t forget the molars!

4. Give your pup a short break from her Chihuahua teeth cleaning. Tell her she is such a good little girl and love on her a bit before going on to the next step.

5. Gently pry open her mouth with one hand and use your finger brush to softly scrub the insides of all of her tiny teeth.
If you brush your little dog’s teeth several times a week, your Chihuahua teeth cleaning session should only take about a minute. This short ritual could save you time and money down the road as small dogs can be prone to having bad teeth if not taken care of over the years.

What is a Chihuahua Collapsed Trachea?

The trachea or windpipe is held open by tiny rings of cartilage. When this cartilage is weakened or damaged it is unable to keep the airway open and allows your Chihuahua’s trachea to collapses inward. As the windpipe collapses, it greatly reduces the amount of air that your poor pup is able to pull into her lungs.

A Chihuahua collapsed trachea is a chronic, incurable disorder that usually worsens or becomes more frequent with age. The good news is that, while it can be frightening to listen to your baby dog honking and gasping for air, a Chihuahua collapsed trachea is rarely fatal.

What Causes a Chihuahua Collapsed Trachea?

There are two main causes of Chihuahua collapsed trachea; genetics and trauma. A tendency toward this condition could have been passed to your pup from one or both of his parents or he could have injured the fragile cartilage somehow.

Excitement, stress, heat, or humidity can all trigger an episode of tracheal collapse. When the trachea collapses, it doesn’t stay collapsed; episodes of Chihuahua collapsed trachea usually only last a few moments. As soon as the episode passes, your little dog will likely go on acting as if nothing unusual had happened.

Prevention of Chihuahua Collapsed Trachea

While there is no cure for a Chihuahua collapsed trachea, there are several things you can do to help prevent episodes.

• Use a harness to lead your precious pup. Your Chihuahua should wear a collar so she has somewhere for her identification tags to hang, but a collar should never be used to lead or control your fragile little dog. The use of a Chihuahua harness can help prevent injury or damage to your baby’s trachea.
• Feed her quality food. Higher Quality food has the proper nutrients your little dog needs for over-all good health, including a healthy trachea. A dog food which has adequate levels of glucosamine will help keep your Chihuahua’s cartilage, including that in her joints and trachea, stronger.
• Watch her weight. A chubby Chihuahua can have all sorts of health problems, including Chihuahua collapsed trachea. Keeping your little friend at an appropriate weight will greatly reduce the frequency and severity of collapsing trachea episodes.
• Reduce exposure to triggers. Figure out what situations are likely to trigger an episode of Chihuahua collapsed trachea in your pup and take steps to reduce her exposure to those situations. For example, if you notice that your baby-dog starts honking like a goose every time she goes to the dog park, find someplace else for her to get her exercise.
• Don’t smoke around your dog. Considering the size of her tiny lungs, it doesn’t take much cigarette smoke to cause health problems in your Chihuahua. Collapsed trachea is just one of the issues you are putting her at risk of if you smoke around your little friend.

Treatment of Chihuahua Collapsed Trachea

About 70% of Chihuahua collapsed trachea can be managed with prevention but may need to be medically managed as well. Cough suppressants, antispasmodics or bronchodilators can be prescribed by your veterinarian to help reduce the severity of episodes.

If your little dog has more than a couple of episodes of Chihuahua collapsed trachea in a short period of time, it would be a good idea to take her to see her veterinarian. If the disorder progresses to far, your little dog can develop heart problems as the lack of oxygen puts train on her tiny body.

In severe cases of Chihuahua collapsing trachea, your vet may recommend surgery. If your precious pooch undergoes surgery for Chihuahua collapsed trachea, a rigid, prosthetic piece will be implanted in her trachea which will prevent it from collapsing. Only a small percentage of dogs are given this surgery but it almost always prevents or greatly reduces the occurrence of Chihuahua collapsing trachea.

If you, like a lot of Americans, are enamored with these little dogs, you might want to learn a few facts about Chihuahuas before you bring one into your home. Fun, frisky, and fabulous; Chis are proof that big things really do come in small packages!

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5. They have a “soft spot.” One unique Chihuahua fact is that, similar to newborn humans, these precious pups have a soft spot on the top of their skulls known as a molera.
6. Chihuahuas are a Toy Breed. According to the American Kennel Club (AKC), the Chihuahua is part of the Toy Breed category along with Shi Tzu, Pug, Pomeranian, Pomeranian and several other small dogs.
7. Chis are fragile. Little dogs have little bones and one sad fact about Chihuahuas is that they are easily injured. A common injury for these sweet dogs is a luxation of the patella. In laymen’s terms, it is not uncommon for a Chihuahua to dislocate their kneecap usually when jumping off beds or other high surfaces in the home. Another common injury is damage to the trachea. These bitty dogs should only be led with a harness to protect their fragile throats.
8. A Chihuahua is a Chihuahua! A fun fact about Chihuahuas is that they come in many shapes, sizes, and colors but they are ALL still Chihuahuas! Whether a “tea-cup” size or a “standard” size; whether apple-head or deer-head; whether long-haired or short-haired – there is only one Chihuahua breed.
9. Dog is god backwards. According to some Mexican folklore, Chihuahuas were associated with the worship of deities in ancient times. In present day America, they are simply worshiped as the special friends they are.
10. I like big brains, and I cannot lie! It is a proven Chihuahua fact that, in body to brain ratios, these little dogs have the biggest brain of any other breed. This will come as no surprise to dedicated Chi lovers who know just how smart and clever their little dog can be!
11. These tiny dogs can have huge litters! Chis have been known to have as many as ten pups in a single litter. That is a lot of puppies for such a small mother!
12. Chihuahuas are very loyal. It is a fact about Chihuahuas that they can be the most loyal of companions; perhaps sometimes almost too loyal! These little dogs with huge hearts bond very deeply with one person and can become overly protective and possessive of this person if care is not taken to socialize them well.
13. Chis are portable!A fact about Chihuahuas that makes them so popular is that they are very portable. They enjoy burrowing into bags and purses and love going places with their special person. Finding the perfect Chihuahua bag can make traveling with your pup even easier!
14. Chihuahuas must live in doors. There are many dogs that are perfectly happy living in the back yard as long as they get plenty of attention from their family. Chis can not live outside, even in the mildest climates. These little dogs are too fragile to survive outside and must live indoors with your where she would prefer to be pampered and cuddled all day.
15. Save money and a life! It is a sad fact about Chihuahuas that there are thousands of them in shelters waiting to be adopted. Shelter pups are healthy, sweet, and ended up in the shelter for no fault of their own. When you rescue a Chihuahua from a shelter you are saving her life and she will always be grateful for this fact!

Are you ready to teach this fun Chihuahua trick to your little princess? Teaching your dog to Dance is fun and fairly easy for a small breed like a Chihuahua.  This fun Chihuahua trick so a real crowd pleaser and will have everyone who sees is saying “awww!”

Before Getting Started

There are a few important things to consider before you can teach this Chihuahua trick to your little friend:

•          Is your little dog strong enough to do this Chihuahua trick?

Dancing requires a lot of abdominal and leg strength. Your Chi will need to build up strength in her tummy muscles slowly. You will need to practice this trick a just a few times a day until she builds up her strength.

•          Is your pup healthy enough to do this Chihuahua trick?

If your little dog has any joint problems, you should skip this Chihuahua trick and teach her something that is physically easier for her.

•          Is she ready to do this Chihuahua trick?

There are several prerequisites that your dog will need to have been taught before she can learn to dance. All three of these tricks will combine to create the Dance.

1.        Your Chihuahua must be taught to Sit. Take the time to teach your pup to sit readily and comfortably when asked to.
2.        Once your Chi has been taught to Sit, then she will need to learn to Sit Up and Beg. This is a relatively easy Chihuahua trick to teach. This trick will help your Chihuahua build up the muscles she will need to Dance; consider them this trick her workout!
3.        The last trick your Chihuahua needs to learn before learning to Dance is to Stand on her hind legs.

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How to Train This Chihuahua Trick

Compared to other breeds, little Chis are particularly capable of doing this trick. Their small bodies and strong hind legs, make this Chihuahua trick simple to learn, if you take the time to let her build up her strength. Let’s take a look at how to teach this Chihuahua trick, step-by-step:

1.       Sit comfortably in front of your pup and ask her to Sit. This Chihuahua trick is often used as a starting point to other tricks and will let your little dog know that school is in session!
2.        Give your dog the “Stand” command and hold a bit of treat just above her nose. Be sure to use a happy, excited voice so that she puts some energy behind her performance.  When she lifts her little front feet off the ground, give her the treat! Be sure she doesn’t snatch the treat from your hand, but stands politely waiting for her reward.She should only get her treat when she has completed the trick and been told “Good Girl!” You don’t want this cute Chihuahua trick turning into bad manners.
3.        Practice the Stand until it becomes easy for your dog.  As she builds up her strength with this trick, gradually increase the duration of time she has to hold it before being given her reward.
4.        Once your precious pooch is able to stand easily for several moments, she is ready to learn to boogie! Ask her to Stand and hold the treat just out of reach. Slowly lure her into taking a step toward the right or left. Whichever you choose, always use the same direction. As soon as she takes just one tiny step, praise her and give her the treat!
5.        Over a period of several days, gradually increase the amount of steps you have your dog take before giving her the treat. Remember, learning Chihuahua tricks is like learning a whole new language for your dog, so be sure to always keeping things positive and upbeat!
6.        Keep adding more steps until your little ballerina is able to complete a pirouette.
7.        Once a single dance turn is easy for your dog, you can ask her to spin another and then another slowly, over time. Eventually you can even start to teach her to spin the other way, adding to her dance-floor repertoire!

If you’re looking train one of the most adorable of all Chihuahua tricks to your little dog, then this is the trick for you! The sit up and Beg Chihuahua trick is fun and easy to teach and brings out the “awww!” from anyone who sees it performed.  

Things To Consider

There are a couple of things to keep in mind before you teach this Chihuahua trick to your dog.

• Is your little pup strong enough to do this Chihuahua trick?

Sitting up to Beg takes a lot of abdominal strength. Your little Chi will need to build up his tummy muscles slowly as he learns this trick. Practicing this trick will be similar to you doing sit-ups at the gym, so only practice this trick for short periods of time. If you dog has any back problems, skip this Chihuahua trick and teach him something that is less physical challenging.

• Remember that there is Begging and then there is begging.

As with any behavior that is rewarded using treats, your cheeky Chihuahua could turn this Chihuahua trick into a bad begging habit. Reward your dog for performing this and all tricks only when you have asked him to show off. Begging when told to, is good doggie behavior; begging to get a bit of your dinner is bad manners and can lead to health problems.

How To Train This Chihuahua Trick

Unlike large-breed dogs, Chihuahuas are particularly capable of doing the Beg. With his tiny size, this Chihuahua trick will be easy for your little dog to learn as long as you are consistent and patient.

Before your little friend can learn this Chihuahua trick, he needs to know how to Sit first. Once he knows how to Sit like a good dog when asked, then he will be ready for this adorable Chihuahua trick. Here is how to train your tiny Chi how to sit up and Beg, step-by-step.

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1. The first step to this Chihuahua trick is to have him sit in front of your pooch and ask him to Sit. Reward him as usual with bit of treat and tell him what a good boy he is.
2. Hold a treat just above his nose. Say “Up!” in a happy, excited voice and draw the treat slightly up and back to lure him up. At this point in the training of this Chihuahua trick, your pup will either jump and try to snatch the treat or stretch tall to try to get it. If he stays Sitting, but reaches his nose up as high as possible, tell him how good he is and give him the treat. If, on the other hand, he jumps up to steal the treat, hide the treat and tell him “no.” Then start again with Step One.
3. Keep practicing Step Two, and gradually raise the treat a bit higher each time. If, at any point, his little rump raises off the ground, tell him “no,” remove the treat, and start over with Step One. The goal of this Chihuahua trick is to have your darling dog lift his front feet off the ground while still keeping his little bum in the sitting position. Continue to practice until your Chi is sitting up, like a groundhog – only cuter!
4. Practice for short periods of time, several times a day. As your little dog builds up his tummy muscles for this Chihuahua trick, he will be able to hold the Beg for longer periods of time. Once this trick is easy for your Chi, give him the “Beg” command but wait a couple of seconds tell him he is a good dog, and repeat the command but don’t give him his treat. After he has held this adorable pose for a moment or two, tell him “Good Beg!” and give him his treat

Remember, this trick takes a lot of strength, so don’t expect your little friend to hold the Beg for very long at first and always give him the treat before he drops his front paws down. This will help him to associate the treat with trick.

While you can’t actually teach your Chihuahua to say “Yoquiero!” you can teach him to bark on command. While this is not one of the more common Chihuahua tricks, it can be a fun Chihuahua trick to teach your little pup.

Motivation

While not impossible by any means, teaching Chihuahuas tricks can be more challenging than large-breed dogs. Their tiny size may cause them to become intimidated easily and a lot of small dogs won’t even take treats from your hand, so finding their motivation can be tricky.

The key to training your Chihuahua tricks of any kind is to keep things very positive! Praise and love is a much stronger motivation than fear and intimidation. Throughout the training process remind yourself that this is supposed to be fun for you both; a chance to deepen your bond with each other.

Another important motivation is the perfect treat. If your Chihuahua is finicky, you may need to do some experimenting to find the treat that he just can’t resist.

Finding the Perfect Treat

Choose a soft treat which will be easier for your Chihuahua to chew

Find a treat that can be broken into smaller pieces

Use the treats ONLY when your training your Chihuahua tricks

Human food is never a good choice

Always give the treat to your dog accompanied with lots of praise

Before teaching this fun Chihuahua trick to your pup, take the time to teach him the basics such as Sit, Lay Down, and Come. These manners will make learning new tricks easier and ensure that your little prince doesn’t turn in to a little monster.

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How to Train this Chihuahua Trick Step-By-Step

1. The first step to this Chihuahua trick is finding a trigger that makes your dog bark naturally. Most Chi’s tend to be on the yappy side, so this shouldn’t be too hard. For example, if he tends to bark every time someone knocks at the door, that is the perfect trigger for this Chihuahua trick!
2. Enlist the help of a friend to knock on the front door or provide whatever trigger works for your little pup. This will take a bit of coordination so that the command and the trigger happen within one or two seconds of each other for this Chihuahua trick to work.
3. With your baby-dog on a leash, sit in front of him and have him sit. This will help him understand that school is in session!
4. Tell your Chi to “Speak!” in a happy, excited voice. Immediately have your friend apply the trigger. When your dog barks, give him lots of praise and say “Good Bark!”
5. Give him his treat as you say “good bark!”
6. Bring him back to a sitting position and repeat steps 2 through 5 several times throughout the day over the course of a few days.
7. Once your pup understands the command for this Chihuahua trick you can remove the trigger of your friend knocking at the door. Keep practicing and your precious pup will be having a “conversation” with you!

Do’s and Don’ts of this Chihuahua Trick

Don’t allow your Chihuahua to “speak” more than a couple of times before giving him the treat.

Don’t let him around like a crazy dog whenever the trigger is applied. Keep him close to you and his attention on you all through the Chihuahua trick training session.

Do use a lot of praise along with a bit of treat whenever he speaks on command.

Don’t give him a treat just for barking! Your pup should only get his reward for barking on command!

What do you do if you have one of those rare Chihuahuas that rarely bark

First of all, count your blessings! While one of the sweetest and cuddliest of dogs, the breed does tend to like to make itself heard! If you are having a hard time finding the trigger that gets your little gentleman to bark, this Chihuahua trick will be a bit more of a challenge for you. Try this:

Bring out his favorite treat and make a big show of how tasty it is. Tease him a bit in a high pitched, excited voice by saying “Do you want this treat? Do you?” or something similar. Eventually, your Chihuahua should bark out of shear frustration. The very second that he does, say “Good Speak!” and give him the treat.